Daniel Dubois dismantled the former two-time world champion Anthony Joshua in front of 96,000 fans at London’s Wembley Stadium to defend his IBF heavyweight title for the first time in emphatic fashion.
Dubois, 27, had been the underdog but he dropped Joshua multiple times to put himself in position to fight for the unified titles and leave his opponent’s once glittering career in ruins.
Joshua, 34, had been attempting to emulate the likes of Muhammad Ali, Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis by becoming a three-time world champion. But he was knocked down by Dubois in the opening round and never truly recovered.
He did appear to briefly wobble an otherwise dominant Dubois in the fifth round, only for his domestic rival to immediately finish the fight with a stunning counter right hook.
“Are you not entertained?” Dubois said after the fight to huge cheers. “This is my time, my redemption story. And I’m not going to stop until I reach my full potential.”
Dubois has now put himself in position to potentially fight the winner of the rematch between WBA, WBC and WBO champion Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury. Although his promoter, Frank Warren, vowed the IBF champion would “keep busy”.
Joshua said he felt “p*****” to lose but quickly vowed to continue boxing after a fourth defeat over the last five years.
“I rolled the dice and came up short,” he said. “But I will keep rolling the dice.”
Eddie Hearn, his promoter, then said Joshua would be interested in a rematch.
Credit: New York Times
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